CLARIFICATION: Ionia County not eligible for Federal Program Assistance

Friday

Jan 25, 2013 at 12:59 AM

The United Way of Montcalm-Ionia Counties works hard to advance the common good and improve the quality of life for all. This is accomplished in cooperation with our partner agencies, generous donors and in some cases grants and other program assistance.

Darcy Brown, Program ManagerUnited Way Montcalm-Ionia Counties

The United Way of Montcalm-Ionia Counties works hard to advance the common good and improve the quality of life for all. This is accomplished in cooperation with our partner agencies, generous donors and in some cases grants and other program assistance.

One example of other program assistance is the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). This program was created in 1983 to supplement and expand the work of local social service agencies, both nonprofit and governmental, to help people with economic emergencies. In Montcalm and Ionia Counties, shelters and food pantries would typically be eligible for some funding.

The EFSP is governed by a National Board that selects counties for funding. Local Boards are convened in those qualifying counties to determine the highest need and best use of funds and to select the Local Recipient Organizations (LRO) that will provide emergency food and shelter services. The United Way of Montcalm-Ionia Counties does not determine which county or LRO receives funding, nor are United Way funds used. In this program the United Way of Montcalm-Ionia Counties serves only as the agency that convenes the Local Board.

In the latest round of funding Ionia County was not eligible for funds per the NationalBoard’s formula. This formula is based upon average unemployment statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most current 12-month period available and poverty statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Census.

A recent article that appeared in the Sentinel-Standard quoted an individual from a local food pantry as saying, “Without United Way funding…” A more accurate statement would have acknowledged that Ionia County was not eligible for funding as outlined above.